Sinanan: Land owners, developers contributing to flooding

Sinanan’s observations were made after he toured Chester Trace, Debe which, several weeks after the passage of Tropical Storm Bret, had not completely recovered as a large number of drains and culverts were still under water.

“The residents have contributed significantly to the problem,” Sinanan said, adding, “They admit that they filled the land and in doing so, they blocked most of the drainage and that is basically responsible for the problem that they are facing there. Yes the government has a responsibility, local government and the Ministry of Works, to go in and try to bring some sort of relief, but the problem there is a problem that was caused by the residents.” Speaking with reporters from atop an embankment built as part of the Debe to Mon Desir highway segment, he said the area’s hydraulic system had to be looked at before any work could recommence on that segment.

Sinanan said due to contractual obligations, government was obligated to complete work which had been started by Brazilian contractor OAS.

He also touched on the perennial flooding which occurs in Port of Spain saying there had not been any improvement in the underground drainage system for some time. He said high tides coupled with heavy rainfall usually led to flash flooding within the city and a temporary solution may involve the use of pumps while the long-term solution may be large retention ponds to store the water during high tides and release it when the tides receded.

Sinanan also sought to dispel reports that no work was being done on the major water courses in south Trinidad and cited works which were being performed on the Cuchawan river.

“A lot of work has been going on, the problem we would have had is the storm Bret, there is no way we could engineer for that amount of rainfall, however the problem here is the embankment that we see here, and if you look at the outflows, they are very small. We definitely have to do something about that but there is a river cleaning program going on and that have started a couple of months ago.” He also downplayed the absence of Oropouche East MP Dr Roodal Moonilal from the tour saying the ministry had only decided on the tour two days ago and Moonilal sent a representative who brought a list of infrastructural work which needs to be done.